An oldie but goodie from 2013...

A 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO racer has become the world’s most expensive car, selling for $52 million.

The red competition car, formerly owned by the Greenwich, Connecticut-based collector Paul Pappalardo, was acquired by an unidentified buyer in a private transaction, said three specialist traders who independently confirmed the purchase and price to Bloomberg News. Recently, the car has been owned by a Spanish collector, the car website Barchetta said.

The price is a 49 percent increase on the record for any auto, achieved last year for another 250 GTO. Values of classic cars, particularly Ferraris of the 1950s and 1960s, continue to grow, attracting new enthusiasts, investors and speculators -- and prompting fears of a bubble in the market.

“Today the GTO is considered the top car to own,” the California-based dealer Don Williams of Blackhawk Collection said in an interview. “It’s like the Mona Lisa. It has a mystique. If you have a GTO, you have a great collection.”

The car was acquired by Pappalardo in 1974, restored and subsequently driven by the collector in many historic races, including the 2002 Le Mans Classic, before being sold on.
“We don’t confirm these things,” Pappalardo said when telephoned last night. “I have no comment.”

Stirling Moss
The Italian marque’s 250 GTO, created in 1962 to compete at the Le Mans 24-Hour and other Grand-Touring car races, is the world’s most desirable and expensive car. Only 39 were produced. An apple-green version, made for the British race driver Stirling Moss, was sold privately for a record $35 million, Bloomberg News reported in June 2012.

The latest record-breaking GTO, chassis number 5111, has a distinguished competition history, having won the 1963 Tour de France road race with the French driver Jean Guichet at the wheel.

New buyers have been attracted by classic cars’ investment potential, as well as the chance they give to participate in concours and racing events.

The bellwether auctions in California timed to coincide with the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance raised a record $301.9 million in August. The total, which included $27.5 million for a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S NART Spyder convertible, was the highest for a series of classic-car sales anywhere in the world, according to the Michigan-based Hagerty database.

Pink Floyd
The highest prices for investment-grade autos have been achieved through discreet private sales. Owners of other Ferrari GTOs, who include Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, have recently received offers between $40 million and $50 million from prospective purchasers, dealers said.
Mason was among the GTO owners convening for a 50th-anniversary get-together in France in July 2012. He was joined by the Goldman Sachs banking scion Peter Sachs; Rob Walton, chairman of Wal-Mart; and Lawrence Stroll, the financier who built Tommy Hilfiger into a global brand in the 1990s.

“It’s a cult car,” the London-based Ferrari dealer Joe Macari said in an interview. “If you’re a billionaire, you feel you have to have one. I don’t understand the appeal of them. They’re not very beautiful and they never won Le Mans. I’d rather have a Testa Rossa.”

The HAGI F index of private and public sales of rare Ferraris was up 54.52 percent for the year, the London-based Historic Auto Group said in a report in August.

Sustainable Rises
“Nothing goes up like that in the mid-term,” HAGI founder Dietrich Hatlapa said in an interview. “Price rises of 55 percent aren’t sustainable in any market. We’re not saying the market is going to collapse. It will probably average out over time.”

Hatlapa said that prices of the rarest Ferraris have risen at an average annual rate of 15 percent for more than 30 years.

The current excitement in the classic Ferrari market has been confirmed by other individual owners.

The Belgian-based collector Johan van Puyvelde exhibited an unrestored 1948 Ferrari 166 Inter-Sport Corsa competition car in the Salon Prive concours show at Syon House, London, last month.

That Ferrari had been bought from a Californian private seller for between $2 million and $2.5 million last year. Van Puyvelde was recently offered $4 million for the car, the Belgian collector said in an interview.
“It is a bubble for certain cars,” said van Puyvelde, surrounded by well-heeled Salon Prive visitors, enjoying their complimentary Pommery champagne and barbecued lobster lunches. “The people who buy the top things do use them. The market is driven by genuine enthusiasm. They want to take part in events like this. I don’t think that many people are buying just for investment.”
Muse highlights include Jason Harper on cars, Rich Jaroslovsky on technology and Amanda Gordon’s Scene Last Night.

Barrett-Jackson to Present Inaugural Northeast Auction in June 2016 at Mohegan Sun CT.

Cadillac Design is pleased to offer an exclusive, behind the scenes design experience with Ed Welburn, Vice President of Global Design.

As Ed’s personal guest, the winning bidder will be granted access to GM’s highest security facility, the General Motors Global Design Center in Michigan. Designed by world-renowned architect Eero Saarinen and designated the “Versailles of Industry” at its inauguration in 1956, the GM Technical Center campus has earned the designation of National Historic Landmark and is recognized by the world’s architectural cognoscenti as a “Most Outstanding Architectural Achievements of its Era.”

If you simply love design history, or have a passion for the clean Mid-Century Modern aesthetic, this is an unprecedented opportunity to immerse yourself in both. This experiential adventure begins with a design brainstorming session and sketch blitz with the Cadillac Design team. Next, enjoy private dining with top Cadillac designers and a facility tour of this architectural masterpiece. This once-in-lifetime day concludes with the opportunity to join Ed for a private design review in the Virtual Reality Studio.

A day of fantastic juxtaposition – cutting edge Cadillac technology and design merged with timeless heritage and craftsmanship. Together, it will be a truly intimate design engagement with an automotive legend full of special sneak peaks and surprises…perhaps even a test ride in one of their latest concepts or a historic-great like the Cyclone. Experience the future of Cadillac!

1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Coupe. Displayed at the 2011 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Coachwork by Touring
Estimate: $600,000 - $900,000
Chassis: 915539
Engine: 923650

Al Capone's 1928 Cadillac V-8 Town Sedan sold at auction for $341K in July 2012.

Coming to Arizona, an early competition Porsche with unmatched originality:

The second from last 904 Carrera GTS built; Documented ownership and extensive competition history; Offered with a period-correct four-cam Carrera engine; Arguably the most beautiful Porsche ever.

1966 Ford Galaxie Convertible 500 11k Original Miles!

We Have For A 5 Day Worldwide NO RESERVE Listing This Fabulous And Truly Unique 66 Galaxie 500 With Only 11k Documented Miles! This Is Possibly The Lowest Mile Galaxie Left To Exist! This Car Is In Excellent Shape And Has Always Been Garaged. The Car Has Been Used Mainly In Local Parades And Car Shows. The Car Has Had One Single Repaint And Was A VERY High Quality Job In The Original Silver Blue Color Code Costing Over $15k The Interior Is Original And Unrestored But Is In Amazing Shape! The Power Convertible Top Works Good And Is In great Shape. All Chrome, Trim And Glass Are In Excellent Condition As Well. The Underside Is Very Clean And Has Never Been Driven On Salted Roads! The Trunk Is Nice And Clean. All The Jams On this Car Are In Amazing Shape As Well. This Car Has NEVER Seen Rain And Has Been Garaged Religiously. We Have Some Original Manual's And Brochures As well As Most Of The Car Show Documents. We Do Have A Copy Of The Original Title From 66 And Most Of The Registrations. The Car Will Include All Paperwork Trail To Document The Miles And A Car Cover. Overall This Is A Beautiful Car In Excellent Shape That Would Be A Great Investment Due To The Ultra Low Mileage And That Is READY For Nice Weather Cruising Or For Showing. We Are Willing To End The Auction Early If Someone Is Interested So Please Don't Hesitate To Ask. If You Have Any Questions Or Would Like To Set Up A Private Inspection Please Contact Us. Thanks

Sold for $143,000 at RM's Amelia auction. 1919 Locomobile Model 48 Roadster by Merrimac. Chassis no. 16119Engine no. 12890.

85 bhp, 525 cu. in. T-head inline six-cylinder engine, four-speed manual transmission, solid front and floating rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and rear-wheel mechanical brakes. Wheelbase: 142 in.

Formerly owned by Alexander Stein and Lenny Dryer. A veteran of decades of reliable touring. CCCA Senior award winner. Only 22,700 believed actual miles

The Locomobile Model 48, introduced in 1911 and manufactured for a remarkable 18 years, was the American equivalent to the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. It was huge, smooth, and silent; it was built to extraordinarily high standards through the use of advanced metals and fine tolerances; and it came with a T-head six-cylinder engine that displaced 525 cubic inches. The Model 48, fitted with custom coachbuilt bodywork, was the automobile of the American aristocracy, in which Carnegies and Vanderbilts were driven.

The car shown here is unusual and desirable among surviving Model 48s, as it was built as a svelte roadster rather than a heavy tourer or limousine. It was likely personally driven by its original gentleman owner, and it was obviously well cared for during its early life, as it has a 1922-specification carburetor and an advanced 12-volt electrical system, which was installed by the factory in Bridgeport, Connecticut, that year.

At some point, however, the Locomobile fell upon hard times. The rear of its body was modified, a wrecker boom was installed, and the hearty machine was used as a tow truck! When its utility use was done, the car was moved to Levine’s, a legendary salvage yard in New Haven, Connecticut, that was known as a “treasure trove” to early enthusiasts. It was at Levine’s that the Locomobile was found in the mid-1940s by Alexander Stein.

Stein was a member of the Stein Brewing family, and his family had owned Locomobiles when they were new. His passion for the marque never subsided, and Stein became a recognized expert in the cars of Bridgeport, writing numerous articles on Locomobile for The Bulb Horn and other publications. Recognizing his Levine’s find as having only 17,000 miles, he had the bodywork restored, which included a repaint in the original color, by former employees of the original coachbuilder, Merrimac of Massachusetts.

Stein retained his prized Locomobile until 1976, when he sold it to an equally passionate enthusiast, Lenny Dryer. Dryer would keep the car for 36 years, during which time it was actively driven on numerous tours all around New England. In 1988, he entered this Locomobile in the Sport Hill Climb at Easton, Connecticut, and won, beating 11 other cars, including a Lozier, which is a testament to the power of the big T-head six.

The car has resided in the collection of its current owner, a known aficionado, for several years. It now shows 22,700 believed actual miles, with nearly 2,000 of those miles being covered, under the present ownership, in a CCCA Ohio Region tour and the 2012 Williamsburg CARavan, in which the car was awarded the Crossett Award, for the best car undertaking its first CARavan. The owner reports that this superb tour car “drives and handles like new,” and it will easily cruise at 55 mph.

After those events, the car’s wheels and running boards were sympathetically restored and its canvas top was replaced. Once those updates were made, it was awarded 98.25 points and its Senior badge at the 2013 Michigan Region Grand Classic. That achievement is all the more amazing when you consider that the car still wears the paint and interior from its Stein restoration, which is now of senior citizen age!

Accompanying the car is its full complement of original tools, which includes a set of original-equipment Rajah spark plugs, a wrench and jack, a trouble light with its original bulb and cord, and an air hose with gauge, and they are all tucked away in their original compartments, just as they were in Bridgeport back in 1919. The fuse box on the firewall has its original tongs, as well as a set of correct spare fuses alongside it.

Since men like Alexander Stein and Lenny Dryer launched the collector car hobby decades ago, Locomobiles have been preferred by connoisseurs for the same reasons that they were preferred when new: they are smooth and reliable and have wonderful power. This Model 48 Roadster, known and loved by connoisseurs and presented with everything that the knowledgeable owner wants to see, is ready for many more happy miles.

Full RM Auction results from yesterday's Amelia Island auction

Final sales results from Gooding auction at Amelia Island.

1960 Eldorado Brougham #66. Completely original and a two year restoration of a Texas original. All numbers match, all paint and interior codes match, and has the mouton carpet option; one of the best in the world. Records, window sticker, receipts, original owners manual, etc. All numbers match and an interesting note I found out when restoring was that all the parts are labeled 66 to this car, parts like the windshield surround, door panels, etc. All the body and interior chrome you see on an Eldorado Broughams made by Pinin Farina are hand made brass pieces with chrome coating. 1960 was the last year for hand made Broughams. The panels and trim not only number match but all the pieces were hand made so one piece from another car might not fit this one and vice versa. There is no vinyl on the interior. None. This Brougham retains its original dash pad and steering wheel that are unrestored and do not need it. You can call me at 214 415 7373 if you prefer. 101 hand made Brougham were built for 1960. 99 were built in 1959. These Cadillacs were more expensive than a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. Even though these Cadillacs look similar to regular Cadillacs they are absolutely not, they share no body panels, windows, or trim. You can also see more pictures at jimhaileyclassiccarsdotcom if you like.

Great balls of fire will pour out of this 248 cid Fireball inline 8 engine, developing just around 125 hp.

For the price of a 2014 sedan you could have brought home a 1941 Buick Super Convertible from Gooding & Co. this past week.

Turn up the Sonomatic radio and forget about the measly $35,200; it was worth every penny.

More pictures & info: http://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1941-buick-super-convertible/#prettyPhoto

1959 Lancia Flaminia Sport by Zagato slated for RM's Monaco auction May 10, 2014. Chassis no. 824.00 1022Engine no. 823.00 1021

Sold at Amelia Auction: $126,500.
909 Locomobile Model 30-L Speedster

Chassis no. 2730. 30 rated-hp, 286.3 cu. in. T-head four-cylinder engine, four-speed manual transmission, solid front axle and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and two-wheel mechanical brakes. Wheelbase: 120 in.

Sporty speedster bodywork
Long history in the old car community
Participant in Vanderbilt Cup anniversary events.

Surely the most famous Locomobile on earth is “Old 16,” the first U.S.-built car to win a race of world renown with its victory in the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup contest on Long Island. It was originally built for the 1906 Vanderbilt race, where it was piloted, as #12, by Joe Tracy. It won the elimination race and had the fastest lap time of any entry, but, in the main race, tire trouble and a muddy course consigned Tracy and the Locomobile to finish 10th. French driver Louis Wagner took the sport’s first checkered flag in a Darracq.

There was no Vanderbilt Cup race in 1907, as a melee broke out in the crowds at the 1906 event, resulting in the death of a spectator. For 1908, race promoter William “Willie K.” Vanderbilt II had completed a private highway, the Long Island Motor Parkway, which provided a safer course for the race and also opened up Long Island to greater development. The two-year-old Locomobile was brought out of retirement and re-numbered as 16. This time George Robertson took the wheel, setting a furious pace and winning the race with a new record average speed of 64.3 mph. Old 16 spent much of its later life with renowned artist Peter Helck, and it is currently in the collection of The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.

Unlike Stutz and Mercer, whose Bearcats and Raceabouts became legends in their own time, Locomobile never offered a speedster to the public. However, the lore of Old 16 inspired many to create their own, particularly in the 1930s and ’40s, when cars with derelict bodywork were fairly plentiful. Faced with fabricating new wood for a limousine or touring car, many an enthusiast opted for a pair of bucket seats and a round fuel tank instead, with the wind in one’s face being a free accessory.

This car has been known in the hobby for some 60 years. It bears a Second Prize brass plaque on the dashboard, from the 50th anniversary celebration of that famous 1908 Vanderbilt race, which was held on October 25, 1958, at Old Westbury, Long Island. Photos taken around that time show it in its current configuration. It is not known who did the skillful and sympathetic speedster conversion, but it owes much to the Bearcat and Raceabout meme, as it has a monocle windshield, brass lighting, a center-mounted Rushmore spotlight, gas headlights, and kerosene side-lamps. The leather upholstery is removable and in excellent order. A Warner Auto Meter odometer-speedometer combination is fitted to the dashboard, which also carries a Warner Chelsea clock with a second hand, and the ignition is of a Bosch dual-coil system.

The chassis is original and highly correct. Even the original muffler is in place and in good order. It rides on Firestone Non-Skid tires, with dual spares at the rear. The car has recently been detailed, with its bright brass giving a visual highlight to the dark blue paint, which is accented with white pinstriping.

In the owner’s words, “It is unusual to find a speedster on such a high-quality chassis with a long-established history.” This car, which is eligible for vintage racing and vintage touring, will turn eyes on any highway and provide an immense helping of fun. It is, as the early company slogan boasted, “Easily the best-built car in America.”

Sold for $126,500: 1925 Stutz 695 Roadster by Weymann. Serial No. 15004

80 bhp, 288.6 cu. in. Speedway Six SOHC inline six-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission, semi-elliptic front and rear suspension, and rear-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase: 130 in.

Highly attractive racing-style, lightweight fabric coachwork. A proven tour and concours winner. An evocative Jazz Age sports car with Indianapolis heritage

The Stutz Motor Car Company of America was born on the track at Indianapolis. After finishing 11th in the first running of the 500 in 1911, Harry Stutz’s prototype “made good in a day,” as advertising bellowed, and production soon followed. While Stutzes would become increasingly larger and more luxurious as time went on, they never completely strayed from their racing roots. The company pioneered overhead-cam engine designs, and it continued to use the latest track technology to make its automobiles ever faster, ever lighter, and ever stronger.

The 695 Roadster offered here is reportedly one of only two known examples attributed to the Weymann American Body Company, of Indianapolis, which was the American firm that licensed Charles Weymann’s pioneering fabric bodywork. Unusually, this car’s bodywork is leather, stretched over aluminum panels, with a matching engine cover and steel fenders. The interior features beautifully crafted red crocodile leather, which is a comfortable touch in an otherwise jaunty, all-business sports machine. Wonderful period touches include the Chicago Balloon front and rear bumpers, dual Trippe driving lights and running board spotlight, a very rare passenger mirror/spotlight, and an original rechromed running board-mounted fuel can.

Prior to acquisition by Mr. Swimmer, the Stutz completed a tour of northern Europe in 1997, taking good advantage of the massive low-end torque produced by its overhead-cam Speedway Six engine. The car is in running and driving order, and it has recently had minor work done to the ignition system and starter; however, it has not been run any distance recently, and it would certainly benefit from a mechanical servicing prior to any long tour. Cosmetically, it continues to present beautifully, as evidenced by its Best in Class win at the Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s in 2009.

Perhaps no Nickel Era Stutz better embodies the thrill and performance of the earlier Bearcats and Bulldogs as this dashing red Roadster.

Titled as 1926.

In 2011 Miami real estate investor Michael Dezer bought dozens of cars used in the James Bond films from the Bond Museum in Keswick, England. Since then, he's added to the trove which now stands at 59 cars, as well as motorcycles, boats, jetskis, tanks and thousands of photos, posters and memorabilia. It is the largest collection of 007 cars in the world, and Dezer has put it up for sale for 20 million pounds ($33.25M US) - the caveat is that you have to buy the entire collection.

But what a collection it is. Among the six Aston Martins are the DB5 from Goldeneye, the Vanquish from Die Another Day and both V8s from The Living Daylights. There is also the Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me - not the Esprit submarine that Elon Musk bought last year at auction, but the pre-dive roadgoing car. The new owner of the collection will keep things up to date with the Audi A5 and the Land Rover Defender 110 from the opening scene of Skyfall, and properly varied with the dragon tank from Dr. No, the Fairey Huntress yacht in From Russia with Love, and the chopped-in-half Renault 11 from A View to a Kill.

An agency in the UK is handling the sale. We will now leave you to handle the money transfer from your people in Liechtenstein.

Malcolm Pray always considered the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance to be a highlight of his year. He enjoyed all that the unique setting had to offer: the ability to attend both an auction and a concours, all within walking distance of his room at the Ritz-Carlton, and the joyful reunion with friends on the seaside green.

Banksville, New York, is the home of the Pray Achievement Center, an organization Mr. Pray founded to mentor and motivate young people to achieve their life goals. Since opening the Achievement Center in 2001, over 8,000 young men and women have been inspired by his enthusiastic approach to realizing one’s dreams.

With his passing in August 2013, at the age of 84, Malcolm’s legacy as a philanthropist continues. The proceeds from the offering of the following 16 automobiles will benefit the Pray Achievement Center. Each of the examples being offered plays into the story of Malcolm’s life, be it the Delahaye that captured his imagination as a young boy, any of the future CCCA Full Classics that he saw driving on the roads as a young man, the BMW 507 that he spotted in Greenwich during the early years of his career as a car dealer, or the Rolls-Royce Phantom V that carried his children to their nuptials.

Top sale at RM's Retromobile auction was $5 million paid for this 1955 Jaguar D-Type.

1952 Alfa Romeo 1900C Sprint by Touring to be be auctioned Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at Retromobile. What do you think she'll fetch?

GT-equipped Series IV Aston Martin to go on the block at Bonham's Retromobile sale February 6. Estimate $790-930K.

1960 OSCA 750 S sold for $660,000 at RM's 2014 Scottsdale auction. Formerly owned by Pixacar member Oliver Collins.

1932 Auburn Twelve Custom Phaeton makes $219K at the RM's Scottsdale auction.

1963 Ford Thunderbird 'M-Code' Sports Roadster sells for $85,200 at RM Scottsdale.

Expensive things come in small packages! 1959 BMW 600 sells for $63,250 at RM Scottsdale.

1940 Mercury 'Custom' Coupe by Charles Marr and Gerry Huth sold for $107,250 at RM's Scottsdale auction.

276 cu. in. L-head V-8 engine with Isky cam and Weiand dual carburetors, three-speed manual transmission with Lincoln-Zephyr gears and overdrive, semi-elliptic leaf-spring front suspension, live axle rear suspension with transverse leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 116 in.

One of the very first California customs
Built in 1940 by Charles Marr and Gerry Huth. Owned for four decades by the well-known Carl Morton. Equipped with all of the best speed equipment and trim of the period. A standout addition to any custom collection.

Many today think of a California custom as something born out of necessity: a used car that has been carefully rebuilt by skilled amateur artisans into something fast and beautiful. However, Charles Marr bought this 1940 Mercury Convertible new in November 1939, and within two weeks, he and his friend Gerry Huth, of well-known Huth exhaust systems, had chopped the windshield three inches and added a removable Carson padded top. Note the date: the Marr/Huth Mercury is one of the very first California customs, perhaps the first customized 1940 Mercury in the Los Angeles area, and it is one of the few surviving to have intact customs built prior to World War II.

The car was acquired in 1962 by Carl Morton, the renowned customizer who had just prior taken over the former Valley Custom Shop of Burbank. Morton recognized the car as one of the first Southern California customs, and he had known both Marr and Huth to be a part of the early kustom kulture. He stored the car for some four decades, and unusual for someone who built custom cars for a living, he appreciated its originality. Thus, not only does this car retain to the present day all of its original customized body panels, including the fenders, doors, hood, and trunk lid, but it also has such prized small trim pieces as the window frames, vent windows, dashboard, and window trim.

In 2005, the Mercury was finally sold to its third owner from new, along with a horde of original and new old stock parts that had been accumulated for a long-awaited restoration. That restoration was undertaken to correct standards between 2008 and 2009, with great care taken to use only authentic trim. The car was totally disassembled and stripped, with the bodywork lead-finished, primered with epoxy, and painted with custom Sikkens Autcryl green metallic paint, replicating a hand-rubbed, multi-coat lacquer finish. The original Carson top was recreated by Paul Reichling of Cedardale Upholstery, and the two-tone interior, with its 1940 Buick steering wheel, was restored by Guy’s Interior Restorations of Portland.

The car boasts numerous 1940s custom touches, including the 1937 DeSoto “ripple” bumpers, which were so widely used on period street rods that they are almost impossible to still find on a 1937 DeSoto today, as well as 1941 Studebaker taillights, teardrop skirts, and “flipper” hubcaps. Dual Appleton spotlights were a “must-have” back in the day.

Under the hood is a correct 1940 flathead V-8 that had been bored and stroked to 276 cubic inches, running a hot Isky three-quarter cam and sporting a Weiand dual-carburetor set-up and modified Lincoln-Zephyr V-12 dual-coil ignition. The engine breathes through dual exhausts and exits in an unusual fashion above the rear bumper. As every hot-rodder worth his salt did, the owner had the transmission fitted with Lincoln-Zephyr gears, which ran to a Zephyr two-speed rear axle. The frame was “C’d” above the rear axle, and a Zephyr hypoid differential moves the car lower without necessitating modifications to the driveshaft tunnel. All of this means that the car will cruise comfortably down the highway at proper modern road speeds, and it will also come nicely to a stop, thanks to Zephyr hydraulic brakes.

Since its restoration, the Marr/Huth Mercury has been displayed at the 2009 Sacramento Autorama as part of a special display honoring 70 years of Mercury customs, of which this is arguably the progenitor. It has covered only 40 miles in its current ownership, and it has been freshly serviced and tuned with new fluids and a battery. All switches and lights work, and it drives beautifully. Its restored condition is still excellent in all regards.

This Mercury is work of art and one of the earliest, most important “lead sleds.” It is a must-have for any custom collection.

We first saw Gene Simmons' 1956 Ford F100 custom truck, nicknamed Snakebit, at last year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The truck was built with factory support from Ford, and it just went up for auction here at the 2014 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, accompanied, as you'd expect, with a ton of fanfare.

Sporting a 550-horsepower, supercharged, 5.4-liter V8 engine and a six-speed manual transmission borrowed from a Shelby GT500, this custom truck has been modeled to resemble a Shelby Mustang with an all-steel front fascia, headlights and hood. The rest of it has been suitably modified, too, with a custom independent front suspension system, a wheelbase stretched five inches and a billet machined bed treatment made to look like wood.

Regardless of what you think of the truck's looks or provenance, at least we can all agree that it was built and auctioned off for a good cause. The gavel fell with a high bid of $450,000, and all proceeds will go toward The Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, the home province of the family of Shannon Tweed-Simmons, wife of the previously mentioned rock star.

Check out our high-res gallery of live images above, and read the truck's official auction description below. For some extra fun while you're watching, play along online with Fox Sports' Fantasy Bid game.

Gooding reports over $49M sold at last week's Scottsdale auction. Full results here.

Arizona’s famous classic-car auction week gets into full swing, the experts caution that too much of a good thing can lead to a nasty hangover. That’s when the red-mist of the auction action fades and you confront the reality of what’s now sitting in your garage.

Do plenty of research before you buy a classic car at auction — and make sure it is something that you will love and enjoy — was the advice from a panel of classic-car veterans who spoke at the Phoenix Automotive Press Association’s fifth annual Arizona Auction Week Preview.

The members of the panel – Keith Martin, the well-known publisher of Sports Car Market and American Car Collector magazines; Corky Coker, the owner of Coker Tire, which specializes in providing rubber for vintage cars; and John Carlson, famed concours d’elegance judge and most recently chief judge at the inaugural Arizona Concours d’Elegance – spoke before a crowd of old-car enthusiasts at the Phoenix Art Museum. The panelists were peppered with questions about where the classic-car hobby stands today and where it’s heading in the future.

Each of the panelists is a lifelong car collector in his own right. Each is in Arizona this week to enjoy the spate of six classic-car auctions happening in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area: Barrett-Jackson, RM, Gooding, Bonhams, Russo & Steele and Silver. Last year, more than $300 million worth of vintage iron crossed the block and into new ownership, a number that is expected to be eclipsed by this year’s sales totals.

corky1“It’s turned into a little bit more than a hobby now,” Coker (right) told the group. “It’s an industry.”

But all that auction excitement and beautiful cars becoming the target of desire can get out of control if you don’t approach it with a clear head.

“It’s what I call car horny,” Martin said. “You walk around and see something you like and get all excited.”

Martin related how a screaming auction deal on a 1964 Chevy Nova wagon turned into a wildly expensive restoration that wound up costing him something in the neighborhood of $45,000. It’s now an incredible car, he added, but maybe not worth what he has in it. He’ll find out when it crosses the block this week at Barrett-Jackson, where the car is selling with no reserve.

But that’s part of the risk and the fun of engaging in the hobby, he said, adding that he has gained much enjoyment from his cars over the years, particularly the Italian ones from Alfa Romeo: “When you buy a car, it changes your life.”

Choosing the right classic car involves much more than its looks or performance, Carlson said. What matters most is how you will enjoy it, and with whom.carlson2

“I tell folks, ‘What group do you want to associate with?’ ” he said. “The key for me is that you have fun with your car.”

Despite his longtime participation in concours competitions and judging, Carlson (right) said that for most people winning an award at a show should never be the chief goal of owning a classic car.

“The only person who cares that you won a trophy is you,” he said. “I tell people that if you really want a trophy, buy one and save yourself $100,000 and a lot of headaches.”

The question of preservation vs. restoration gained traction during the discussion, with all three panel members espousing a cautious approach in attempting to bring a car back to original or even better condition while possibly ruining its originality and authenticity.

Coker is about to debut a new reality television show, Backroad Gold, on the Travel Channel. The show will focus on discovering original barn-find cars. Coker said he is a major proponent of preserving original cars despite their flaws.

“I just like the look of an original car,” Coker said. “I like the look, the smell and the stories.”

martin3Of course, that only works if the car is in reasonably good condition, Martin (left) noted. “There’s a difference between a preserved car and a nasty old thing.”

Carlson said that under concours definitions, a preserved car is one that has never been cosmetically restored, with no new paint, upholstery or chrome work. They can be mechanically repaired as needed to make them run, as well as getting such perishable items as tires and windshield wipers replaced. But the patina of faded paint and interiors can add much to the allure of an automotive survivor.

“We’re really going toward keeping cars in original condition,” he said, noting that the previous trend was toward total restorations. “We want to keep as many great unrestored cars as we can. They are wonderful and we don’t want to restore these cars.”

In his typical way, Coker got plenty of laughs during the seminar with his dry wit and homespun observations. At one point, he turned the discussion about driving and enjoying classic cars into an unexpected sales pitch.

“If it’s presentable and makes people smile, then get in it and drive it,” he said. “Why? Because it wears out tires.”

The topic of the classic-car hobby’s future focused on getting younger people interested in cars that were created before most of them were born. The panelists agreed that getting technology-obsessed millennials interested in old cars could be problematic.

The only way to get young people to love old cars is to make sure that they are exposed to them, Martin said, including getting them behind the wheel. “They have to be brought in and taught to like these cars because they didn’t grow up with them.”

Coker said he sees many young people coming into the hobby, inspired by their parents to appreciate the classic machines. Beyond keeping the hobby going, he added, it’s important that people understand the old cars to thwart misguided anti-pollution efforts to get them off the road. “There are a lot of green people who have no idea what we do.”

The overarching advice from the expert panel to potential buyers is to be savvy, clear-headed and well-informed. The main way to avoid the pitfalls of classic-car collecting is to do your homework on the make and model before you start bidding, Carlson said.

“The No. 1 tool to have in your tool box is to do your research,” he said.

Watch this 1997 McLaren sell for $4.8M at Gooding's 2014 Scottsdale auction.

Barrett-Jackson auction action January 16, 2014.

The first Airstream trailer, a 1934 Bowlus, at auction in Scottsdale 2014.

Here's a comparison shot of the Kellner Duesenberg being offered by Artcurial, which is alleged by the auction company to be the sole remaining survivor of this body type. Below the 1931 Renault with identical coachwork photographed during a recent barn discovery in the northeast.

RM kicks off their Scottsdale sale at 5 PM today with lot #1, a 1952 Harley-Davidson FL Sport Solo. No Reserve with a presale estimate of $30-40,000.

Lot #1 at Gooding: 1957 MGA Roadster, presale estimate $35-50,000.

On the block in Scottsdale January 16, this rare 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Coupe by Touring. Presale estimate: $325,000 - $425,000. I just sold an identical example from a Toronto collector in mint condition; this sucker needs a lotta work!

The price of something real: 1961 Porsche 718 RS 61 Spyder to be auctioned on Thursday, January 16, 2014. Estimate $2,800,000 - $3,200,000. Chassis no. 718-066Engine no. P90316

Tapped out after holiday shopping? What a neat piece coming up this week at Bonhams Scottsdale auction. A Phillips Autoradio advertising poster by R. Geleng, circa 1950s,
US$ 400 - 600.

Another gem from the upcoming Bonhams sale, for kids of the sixties (that's me) Rat Fink was like a right of passage! Estimate $3,000 - 5,000. Now why didn't I keep mine?

1960 DKW Schnellaster Kastenwagen 3=6 to be auctioned on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at RM Scottsdale. No reserve. Presale estimate $80,000 - $100,000

After a downpour at the 1955 Pebble Beach road races, the staff at Road & Track decided that they needed a vehicle to serve as a combination mobile office, galley, and bunk for future West Coast races. They looked at a Wells Cargo trailer and a Ford wagon; a Fiat Multipla; a Volkswagen Kombi (bus); a Chrysler Town & Country wagon; and Alfa Romeo’s “Romeo” Camper. But what they actually bought for their new “Pressmobile,” as it said on the side, was a DKW 3=6.

DKW had been the largest European motorcycle manufacturer before World War II, and it was a two-stroke specialist, so it was little surprise that their 3=6 followed the trend. Even the name, “3 equals 6”, is a subtle boast about the powerplant, which has three cylinders that give the performance of a small six. Volkswagen’s Micro Bus, however, was probably the closest competitor. At the time, it would have been notably smaller and lighter and correspondingly less expensive. The DKW made up for its weight disadvantage with 42 horsepower and 57 foot-pounds of torque, yielding “enough ‘steam’ to pull a much heavier Karavan along at a better rate,” said Road & Track. They also noted that the torquey, high-revving two-stroke would burn rubber in first gear, while also being able to cruise comfortably at 60 mph. Its best quality, however, was its handling on the open road, “which can only be described as amazing.” Add tremendous reliability—one tune-up and a single loose wire in Road & Track’s first 9,000 miles were the only work required—and ahead-of-its-time features, like a curbside door with five feet eight inches of headroom, a flat floor, and front-wheel drive, and the DKW is a look forward at the minivans that were to come decades later.

This example was rescued from a storage shed at a mining operation in southern Oregon in 1996, and an unconfirmed story says that it had been used by a hosiery salesman in the 1960s to service his route along the Pacific Coast. Assorted 3=6 models were actively sold in the U.S.A., and while no records of importation numbers have been found, it’s likely that less than 1,000 of the Kastemwagen panel trucks were sold. Today, only six are known in the U.S.A.; two of them are restored, two are complete and unrestored, and two are parts vehicles, making restoration extremely challenging.

It might not even be possible to complete another Schnellaster to this level. The consignor’s search for parts stretched over at least eight countries and three continents, including the U.S., Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Netherlands, Greece, and Crete. Even the machine screws, which are used exclusively throughout the bodywork, are new old stock parts. Every mechanical component is original to the vehicle, right down to the rebuilt relays, wiper motors, turn signal switches, and voltage regulators. The factory color was duplicated from original paint that had been found on the firewall, under a panel that had not been exposed to weather, and the van was finished correctly, as per the factory, in a single color inside and out, with black fender trim, extruded aluminum brightwork, and a wood load floor. The original engine, often found seized in a 3=6 from lack of oil, was rebuilt with sealed bearings for longevity and with modern synthetic two-stroke oil, and it offers improved performance and less two-stroke smoke.

After a two-and-a-half-year restoration, this Schnellaster Kastenwagen appeared at the 2013 Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance, where it was awarded Second in Class; points were deducted for incorrect tires, which have since been replaced.

Other Schnellaster Kastenwagens can be found, but it is unlikely that any others have been or can be restored as correctly and sympathetically as this icon of the evolution of modern transportation.

Last month while visiting Toronto and RM Auction's nearby facility I came upon this pristine time-warp vintage Bentley, a 4-1/2 litre Vanden Plas tourer to be precise. Probably the best one on the planet with a pre-auction estimate to match.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS Indy Pace Car Replica to be auctioned on Friday, January 17, 2014 at RM Scottsdale. Presale esimate: $110,000 - $130,000

454 cu. in. overhead-valve V-8 engine, Muncie M21 Rock Crusher transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs, live rear axle suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase: 108.1 in.

One of 3,675 Indy Pace Car Replicas built
Equipped with the vaunted 454 big block V-8. Original 396 is included with the car
Attractive black-and-orange houndstooth interior

A smart styling update for 1969 lent the Camaro a tougher appearance and made it the most iconic of all Camaros. An inset grille gave the front end a meaner look, while creases above the wheel wells on all four fenders created a more masculine stance. Round parking lights also replaced the rectangular lights, and the taillights changed from double to triple lenses.

The new look earned the Camaro the honor of pacing the 1969 Indianapolis 500 for the second time in three years. This was the fourth time that Chevy had received the honors, with the previous races being in 1948, 1955, and 1967. The ’67 race, just two years earlier, had been paced by a Camaro in its introductory year.

All of the Indy Pace Car Replicas were RS/SS convertibles that had been painted Dover White with orange Z28-style stripes, and they all featured bold black-and-orange houndstooth upholstery. The RPO Z11 package, which denoted the Indy Pace Car Replicas, also included D80 spoilers, YA1 deluxe seatbelts, ZJ7 rally wheels, and a ZL2 ducted hood. The RS package included hidden headlights, front and rear wheel lip moldings, chrome accents on the rear fender louvers, and assorted RS trim.

The Pace Cars were available with either the SS 350 or SS 396 packages. This example has the more desirable SS 396, which also came with sport suspension, sport wheels, and power disc brakes. It is believed that roughly only 15 to 20 percent of the Indy Pace Car Replicas were ordered with the 396. Other options included air conditioning, power steering, a power top, and gauges, making this car easier to drive on a regular basis than most muscle cars.

The current owner believes that he is only the third owner of the car. Interestingly, the first owner installed a 454-cubic inch big block V-8 engine; however, the original matching-numbers 396-cubic inch V-8 also comes with the car. The original engine has been professionally cleaned and tested, and it remains in excellent condition. Overall, this is an outstanding example that has benefitted from some thoughtful performance upgrades that will undoubtedly deliver more than ample performance and excitement for its next owners.

1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series II
Coachwork by Touring, estimate: 550,000 - $650,000. Chassis: DB4/488/L, Engine: 370/491.
Matching-Numbers, Factory Left-Hand-Drive Example. Delivered New to Victoria, BC. Engine Upgraded to Three-carburetor, 4.2-Litre Vantage Configuration. Largely Original and Unrestored Condition. The First of Aston Martin’s Touring-Bodied Models
Offered with Copy of Factory Build Sheet

Already at $137,500 on eBay!
1967 Ferrari 330 GTC, wrecked on front driver's side. All parts are still on the vehicle, 99.9% complete, other than one windshield wiper arm. Very repairable, this car can be an awesome restoration project or a parts rich car for another Ferrari restoration.

This Ferrari 330 GTC was stored many years, after it was damaged. Recently recovered from a storage barn. Its now ready to be put in someone's hands that can appreciate the rarity of such a car. Refer to the link below for the specification on this vehicle.

http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/Classiche/All_Models/Pages/330_GTC.aspx

The winning bidder must make a $1000 deposit within 48 hours after auction end. I reserve the right to end the auction early, because it is advertised locally. I have 100% feedback, and will answer all emails, or provide additional photos and assist the bidders in any way. All inquiries will be confidential and discreet.

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a historical Ferrari. Title is clean and in hand. This car is complete.. down to the Weber Carburetors and the original spare tire.

Good luck and good bidding!

1963 Ferrari 250 GT0 sells for record $52 million.

Citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the sale, Bloomberg reports that the rare 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO was owned by noted Connecticut based car collector Paul Pappalardo, and likely sold to a Spanish collector.

If accurate, it was the highest known price ever paid for an automobile, smashing the record set by another Ferrari 250 GTO last year, which went for a reported $35 million.

When contacted by Bloomberg, Pappalardo had no comment.

The 250 GTO was a street legal racing car that cost less than $20,000 when new. Pappalardo purchased the car in 1974 for an unknown price and has entered it in several historic racing events over the years.

A total of 39 250 GTOs were built from 1962 to 1964 and just 36 are known to exist. No two are exactly the same.

Lambrecht auto auction's top five sales from Day 1. 1958 Cameo pickup sells for $140K!

THE MOST VALUABLE ROAD CAR EVER SOLD AT AUCTION: 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. SPIDER SMASHES MULTIPLE RECORDS SELLING FOR $27.5 MILLION AT RM'S SATURDAY SALE IN MONTEREY.

Monterey

· RM’s Saturday sale session was topped by a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T Spider which sold for an incredible $27,500,000 making it the most valuable Ferrari and most expensive road-going car of any kind ever sold at auction as well as the second most expensive car to ever be sold at auction, with all proceeds being donated to charitable causes
· Additionally, the stunning 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Roadster sold for $8,250,000
· Overall, a record-breaking night of sales in Monterey with 16 cars selling for in excess of $1 million and numerous new world records established for individual marques and models

MONTEREY, California (August 18, 2013) – RM Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, continued its Monterey sale weekend with an incredible record-breaking Saturday auction which saw the star lot, an ultra-rare 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T Spider, smash records and sell for an astounding $27,500,000. This incredible price makes the car the second most expensive car ever to be sold at public auction and comfortably the most expensive Ferrari ever sold at auction. Alongside the N.A.R.T Spider, eyes were also firmly fixed on the 2012 Pebble Beach Best of Show-winning 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Roadster, which sold for $8,250,000.

The 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T Spider is one of the world’s rarest cars, with only 10 cars having been built in the 1960s, commissioned by Ferrari’s American importer, Luigi Chinetti. The particular car sold in Monterey this weekend is even rarer for the fact that it has been in the same family’s ownership since new. The price realized for the car establishes a new world record for a Ferrari sold at public auction and makes the car the second most valuable car to ever be sold at auction as well as the most valuable road-going car ever sold at auction. Furthermore, all proceeds from the sale will be donated to charitable causes close to the heart of the late owner, Mr. Eddie Smith Sr.

The 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Saoutchik Roadster is an exquisite, multi-award-winning car which was judged Best of Show at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The car achieved a remarkable $8,250,000, as international bidders battled to secure what is widely considered to be one of the most desirable pre-war cars ever made.

The two star lots headed a remarkable sale which saw 15 cars sell for in excess of $1,000,000 each and numerous auction sale records established.

RM Monterey Million-Dollar-Plus Sales (Saturday)

1. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T Spider - $27,500,000
2. 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Roadster - $8,250,000
3. 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider Series I - $3,520,000
4. 1974 McLaren M16C Indianapolis - $3,520,000
5. 1953 Maserati A6G/2000 Spyder - $2,530,000
6. 1935 Hispano-Suiza K6 Cabriolet -$2,255,000
7. 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 ‘Birdcage’ - $2,090,000
8. 1960 Aston Martin DB4GT- $2,060,000
9. 1995 Ferrari F50 - $1,677,500
10. 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder - $1,650,000
11. 1996 Ferrari 33 SP Evoluzione - $1,375,000
12. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing - $1,265,000
13. 1990 Ferrari F40 -$1,155,000
14. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II - $1,100,000
15. 1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roadster - $1,017,500


The Saturday sale session concluded RM’s 2013 Monterey auction. In total, the two-day sale presented approximately 120 blue-chip automobiles as part of the most significant auction offering ever presented on the Monterey Peninsula. Full sale results will be posted online shortly at www.rmauctions.com.

(All figures are reported in U.S. dollars and include the 10 percent buyer’s premium)

RM Auctions scores another strong sale at the third annual St. John's Concours.

1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spider at auction RM Monterey, lot # 140. Originally raced by "Gentlemen" Jim Kimberly, whose nephew is my Vermont neighbor and friend! http://rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1061975

Call it a round $30M, the ex Fangio Mercedes Grand Prix racer becomes the most valuable car ever sold at auction!

VanDerBrink Auctions, LLC will be conducting the amazing Lambrecht Chevrolet Company Auction 9-28,29th of September 2013 in Piercve, NE. This is ana amazing collection of NEW Chevrolets from the 60's and more along with hundreds of survivor cars. Amazing! See you there!

1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS by Touring. Scheduled for Gooding auction at Pebble Beach. Chassis # 915758, Engine # 928064. Presale estimate $525,000 - $675,000

Auction of an assortment of Barn Find Project and Parts Cars. You never know what is in those old buildings and this collection was tucked away in An older arsenal building in the Hastings, NE Industrial Park. There is something for everyone From Pickups, Coupes, Sedans, and convertibles. Chevrolet, Ford, Pontiac, they are all here! Plan now to attend this auction.

FORD:

1931 Ford Model A 2dr Sedan, clean!, 1940 Ford Coupe, started project, 1940 Ford Coupe Body, 1934 Ford 2dr Sedan Rolling Body, 1935 Ford Coupe Body, 1936 Ford Sedan Body, 1936 Ford 2dr Sedan Body, 2-1937 Ford Coupes for project, 1938 Ford Std. Coupe project, 1938 Ford 2dr Sdn project, 2-1938 Ford coupe Bodies for project, 1938 Ford Panel project, 1940 Ford 4dr Suicide Project, MULTIPLE SHOEBOX FORDS! 4-1949 Ford Custom 2dr Sdns, 1949 Ford w/ Accessory Fog light 4dr Sdn, 1949 Ford Club Coupe, 1949/50 Ford Woody Wagon Project, 1950 Ford 2dr Sedans, 1951 2dr Sdns, 3-1953 Ford Sunliner Conv. Projects, 2-1953 Ford Victoria 2dr HT Projects, 1952/3 Ford Country Sedan Wagon, 1953 Ford Crestline 2dr HT- PLEXIGLASS ROOF project, 2- 1954 Ford Custom Line 2dr Sdn, 1955 Ford Custom line Sdn, 1956 Ford Victoria 2dr HT Project, 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Conv. Project, 1960 Ford Galaxie Wagon, 1961 Ford 2dr HT, 1959 Ford Edsel 4dr Sdn, Driver, 1958 Ford Thunderbird, PICKUPS: 2-1949/50 Ford F-1 Pickups, 1946 Ford Pickup, AND MORE!!

MERCURY:

1953 Mercury 2dr HT, 1953 Mercury 2dr Sdn,1953 Mercury 4dr Sdn, 1952 Mercury 2dr HT, 1956 Mercury Montclair 2dr HT, 1953 Mercury Conv. Conversion, 1964 Mercury Conv. Conversion,RARE 1968 Mercury Cougar GT.E Coupe, 8F93W55568!!!! and more..

CHEVROLET:

1947 Chevrolet 2dr Sedan, 1950 Chevrolet 2dr Sdn, 1951 Chevrolet Belair 2dr Sdn, 1952 Chevrolet 2dr Sdn, 1954 Chevrolet 2dr HT, 1956 Chevrolet Belair 4dr HT, 1957 Chevrolet 4dr Wagon, 1957 Chevrolet 4dr Sdn, , 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible, 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne 2dr Sdn, 1958 Chevrolet 2dr HT, 1958 Chevrolet Belair 2dr HT, 1958 Chevrolet 2dr Wagon, 1958 Chevrolet Delray 2dr Sdn, 1958 Chevrolet Belair 2dr HT, 1958 Chevrolet Belair 4dr Sdn, 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne 4dr Sdn, 1958 Chevrolet 4dr Sdn, 1959 Chevrolet Nomad 4dr Wagon, 1963 Chevrolet 2dr HT, 1964 Chevrolet 4dr Sdn, 1964 Chevrolet El Camino, PICKUPS: 1937 Chevrolet Pickup, 1949 Chevrolet 5 Window Pickup, started 1949 5 Window Project, AND MORE…

PONTIAC/BUICK/OLDS/CADILLAC:

1970 Pontiac GTO Coupe, V8, 4spd, AC, 1952 Pontiac 2dr HT, 1953 Pontiac 2dr HT, 1953 Pontiac 2dr Sdn, 1954 Oldsmobile 88 2dr HT, 1952 Buick 4dr Sdn, 1971 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible, 1966 Oldsmobile F85 Conv., 1947 Cadillac Hearse!!!!and more..

CHRYSLER/DODGE/DESOTO/PLYMOUTH:

1960 Chrysler Windsor 2dr HT, 1965 Dodge Polara 2dr HT, 1970 CUDA Body, 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury 2dr HT, 1957 Desoto Fireflite 4dr Sedan, older restore, and more..

STUDEBAKER/NASH/RAMBLER:

1948/9 Studebaker 4dr Sedan, 1952 Studebaker 2dr Sdn, 1966 Rambler Rouge project, ..

1970’S DATSUN 280Z COUPE

1995 CHEVROLET 3500HD CAR HAULER!! V8, AL2 JERR DAN BED, 7.4L, TOW BAR!!!! READY TO GO FIND THOSE TREASURES!

TERMS: Cash, Good check, w/verification of funds preferred, Credit Card w/Adm Fee. AS IS And ALL SALES ARE FINAL, settlement in FULL day of Sale. NO EXCEPTIONS! Removal day of sale or within 10 Days. May remove parts and leave body. On-Line bidding available at www.proxibid.com, online bidders have separate terms. Loading assistance available.

THE HASTINGS COLLECTION: VanDerBrink Auctions, LLC will be conducting the HastingsCollection 7-20-2013 in Hastings, NE. Cars for project, parts, and rod. For more information www.vanderbrinkauctions.com or 605-201-7005.
BARN FIND CARS-PICKUPS-CAR HAULER AT AUCTION

SATURDAY JULY 20TH, 2013 AT 10AM

HASTINGS INDUSTRIAL PARK- HASTINGS, NEBRASKA 68901

Dale Pavlis- Auctioneer

Aaron Williams- Auctioneer

For more information, auctions, video, pictures, and more.. www.vanderbrinkauctions.com

ON-Line Bidding available at www.proxibid.com

1930 Bugatti Type 43 Supercharged Sports 2/4 Seater sells for $875,000 at Greenwich Concours.

-Extensively documented by marque experts
-Comprehensive restoration by Bugatti restorer Jim Stranberg
-Eligible for Mille Miglia and other retrospectives
-Chain of renowned U.S. owners

The Type 43

The Type 43 was launched in the spring of 1927 and was developed from the Type 38, from which it took axles, brakes, steering, the radiator and gearbox. The engine, on the other hand, was a 2.3 liter supercharged unit taken from the Type 35B grand prix car. A slightly shorter wheelbase chassis was used, waisted in the center to follow the body lines. It was hailed as a road car with the qualities of its racing sister, and was well suited to sporting events such as the Alpine Trial, hill climbs and circuit racing while retaining all the capabilities of a long distance fast touring car.

Described by the late Hugh Conway as 'one of the four really great Bugatti models', the Type 43 was among the very first road cars to be offered with a top speed of over 100 mph. It was also expensive, selling when new in 1927 at a list price of £1200. Autocar's European correspondent W. F. Bradley owned a Type 43 in the late 1920s and wrote, "This model has all the characteristics of a racing car, and is indeed a racing car with a touring body; it looks fast, and it really is fast, but six months' experience with one on French highways has proved that it is one of the safest cars a motorist could handle. Its maximum speed is about 112 mph: its gear ratio and the size of tire used give 20.5 mph per 1000 rpm. . .one soon becomes satisfied with the knowledge that the car is one of the fastest on the road, and the greatest pleasure is obtained not in attempting to obtain the maximum from it (indeed, that is all but impossible except on a track), but in its wonderful acceleration, its high degree of flexibility, and its remarkable steadiness at all speeds, and particularly when one is negotiating winding hills."

The Motorcar Offered

This is an exquisite supercharged 8-cylinder Bugatti. It is a car that has been fastidiously researched by two of the great authorities on the marque, David Sewell in the UK and Pierre-Yves Laugier of France, and one that has benefited from a comprehensive restoration at the hands of one of the great restorers of the marque, Jim Stranberg of High Mountain Classics in Colorado.

Its documented history, compiled from the reports of these two renowned historians, has been traced back through a combination of factory records and French registration listings which actually begin on September 1928, when the car's engine '133' was built at the Molsheim Works and fitted to chassis 43286. It was one of eight cars to be built that month. It would not be sold from the Works, though, for another 18 months, when it was invoiced to B. Larrousé of Paris on May 12, 1930. Sewell's belief is that Larrousé was most likely a recently appointed agent for the company as just three were sold to him in 1929 and no less than 56 Bugattis were invoiced in 1930!

Through Laugier's forensic style investigation of the French registration records it was established that, while the first person that Larrouse sold the Bugatti to is not confirmed, by 1932 it was the property of M. Eonnet. The Eonnet family was known to have been serial Bugattistes and would follow this purchase with acquisitions of other Bugattis including a 57S (57511) and a Type 51. Photos sourced from the family album by Laugier show the 43 being enjoyed by Eonnet, and establish that it carried factory Grand Sport coachwork.

In 1936 the car moved to the first of a series of owners on the French Riviera and received a new local registration with the Nice authorities. Amazingly and helpfully these police records exist, and refer back to the car's last change of ownership as having been in July 1933 in Paris. The Bugatti would pass through the hands of custodians in Nice, Cannes, Avignon and finally back to the coast of Marseille in September 1948.

Within 2 weeks, the car was bought in Marseille by American Peter Hall and this would commence its U.S. history. Two years later he shipped the Bugatti back to America in 1950. By this time, the car was already in the guise in which it is seen today, as a typically mid-1930s 2/4 Seater with full fenders and with two raised cowls. Neither Sewell nor Laugier have pinpointed a precise date when the car was updated to this style, but both surmise that its revisions would have made the car look more like the contemporary Type 55 and other European Sportscars of the day which were carried out during its time on the French Riviera. Although this work has long been attributed to Paris coachbuilder Million-Guiet, it seems unlikely.

Over the course of the last 60 or so years, the car has had just a handful of owners: Ralph Eades of Santa Ana, CA, in 1953, who is known to have purchased it from Peter Hall, then onto Tom Harrison in 1973. After, it would pass into the long term ownership of then American Bugatti Club President and noted Bugatti collector Richard Adams of La Mesa and, subsequently, family members Lee Adams and Betsy Adams.

Within the last decade, the Adams decided to restore the car, commissioning Jim Stranberg of High Mountain Classics to undertake this work. A comprehensive restoration of cosmetic and mechanical aspects has produced the stunning result that we see today.

On completion of the restoration, the Type 43 made its debut on the hallowed fairway at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2006, where it received 3rd in its class behind a somewhat formidable entry - a considerable achievement. Since then it has changed hands twice and has continued to be shown, most recently at 'The Elegance at Hershey' Concours in June 2011 where it was awarded the 'French Curves' award, confirming that the Bugatti maintains the exceptional condition achieved in its restoration.

It could be argued that a Type 43 is one of the best ways to experience the Bugatti legend, as it harnesses the 'pur sang' or 'pure blood' of the fabled Supercharged Type 35B. With virtually the same running gear, yet in an altogether more road friendly package, it is more suitable for high speed touring. As they go, this is surely one of the best presented examples of its kind and is in ready to be used order.

Today, by virtue of the considerable number of endurance races that Bugatti's Type 43 contested in period, the cars are now eligible for many of the more desirable retrospective events including the Mille Miglia and Le Mans Classic.

With a top level restoration under its belt, this stunning Bugatti would be at home on the road, track or concours field.

Chassis no. 43286
Engine no. 133
2,262cc SOHC supercharged inline eight-cylinder engine
Single Zenith 48 carburetor
120bhp
Four-speed manual transmission
Rigid front and rear axles with four-wheel semi-elliptical leaf springs
Four-wheel cable operated mechanical drum brakes

Upcoming RM Auctions Monterey August 16-17, 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider Series 1.

1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta 'Competizione' by Pinin Farina.

The ex-Steve McQueen1914 Indian Model F Board-Track Racing Motorcycle. Photo: Bonhams. LONDON.- The 1914 Indian Model F will join machines from three collections as part of a 240-strong offering of Pioneer, Vintage and Collectors’ motorcycles at the Bonhams sale at the International Classic MotorCycle Show An early racing motorcycle once owned by legendary Hollywood actor Steve McQueen is to be offered for sale by Bonhams at the International Classic MotorCycle Show in Stafford, UK, on Sunday 28th April. The 1914 Indian Model F, estimated to realise between £22,000 and £28,000, is an example of a board-track racing motorcycle. These early purpose-built motorcycles lacked a clutch, throttle and brakes, and were push-started and run flat-out – often reaching speeds of up to 100mph – until the end of the race, when the rider would short the magneto to stall the engine. Restored by a marque specialist, the 4hp machine was purchased by its current owner at a Bonhams auction in Carmel, California, USA, in May 2010, and has since been housed in his private collection. Ben Walker, Head of the Bonhams Motorcycle Department, said: “The men who raced these early board-track motorcycles were not only pioneers and champions of early motor racing but must also have been incredibly brave. In this age of health and safety the idea of riding at up to 100mph with no helmet or protective clothing, knowing you have no way of stopping in a hurry, is a terrifying thought – but this is what they did.” The Bonhams Spring Stafford Sale will offer a total of 242 motorcycles, with many coming from private collections. An eclectic selection of 31 machines owned by the late Clifford Jones features a number of 1950s ‘cafe racers’, as well as much modern-day racing and superbike machinery including several Ducati 916 Sennas and 999 Desmosedici Casey Stoner Replicas. Some 28 motorcycles from another single-owner collection include 15 Triumphs, from a 1953 Speed Twin to a 1982 TSX, with estimates ranging between £2,000 and £8,000. Among other sale highlights is a trio of Broughs – including a 1926 Brough Superior SS80/100 (estimate £160,000 - £200,000) and a 1931 SS80 (estimate £50,000 - £70,000) from the same vendor – and an early Brough, a 1921 Model G estimated at £20,000 - £30,000. Meanwhile the fully-restored ex-works Vincent Black Shadow which formed part of the factory’s bid to set a new 24-hour speed record at Montlhéry in France in May 1952 is estimated to realise between £110,000 and £130,000. Among an array of Pioneer machines on offer is a largely-untouched 1913 Excelsior 61ci Model 7C Twin from a significant private collection (estimate £35,000 - £45,000), a fully-restored 1913 Rex 896cc V-twin (estimate £18,000 - £22,000), and a restored 1905 Peugeot 3½hp V-twin (estimate £18,000 - £22,000). Ben Walker continued: “Our annual spring sale at the International Classic MotorCycle Show – our first on the UK auction season calendar – has traditionally been a very successful sale for us. “We are delighted to return to Stafford with another wide and eclectic offering of important motorcycles, ‘barn-find’ restoration projects and affordable classics.”

More Information: http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=61814#.UWYY3aKG18E[/url]

Are you sitting down? This 48 x 30 Beacon Security Gasoline sign sold for $50,000 at Matthews Auctions http://matthewsauctions.com/.

Another big money sale at Matthews Auction: Harbor Petroleum Products diecut sign 39 x 35 Inches. $52,500!!

RM had another banner auction at their Amelia Island sale.

Plan to attend Auction America Ft. Lauderdale sale March 22-23. Online catalog here... http://www.auctionsamerica.com/catalog/2013/FL13/

RM's recent Amelia Island auction was a barn burner with $26.8M in sales and 92% lots sold. A 1935 Duesenberg SJ Walker LaGrande convertible couple hit $4.5M.

RM's 1952 Ferrari 225 Sport Berlinetta. Lot 147 at the 2013 Amelia Island sale. For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/Yh52FF

1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible Coupe
$4,510,000 SOLD! With Commission
Top Sale RM Auction Amelia Island 2013.

Over $9 million for the Bruce Weiner (don't laugh) collection of micro cars.

Hundreds of microcars and memorabilia, to be offered without reserve, February 15-16, 2013. www.handlewithfun.com

Amazing barn find Aston Martin DB5 upcoming at Bonhams auction. http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/magazine/3500.asp?id=16671

Jim Fasnacht discusses the three Cords he has on offer at this year's Amelia Island sale.

1929 Cord L-29 Town Car by d'Ieteren Freres: http://bit.ly/VXzhDy

1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet: http://bit.ly/Wdf2RM

1930 Cord L-29 Sport Cabriolet by Voll & Ruhrbeck: http://bit.ly/WpClWv

Batmobile sells $4.2M before "the big!"

1955 Presidential Caddy upcoming RM Auctions.

Chrysler Hurst on eBay. TEST

Microcar auction at RM. http://www.handlewithfun.com/lot-details.cfm?SaleCode=BW13&CarID=r176

Upcoming RM Auctions Arizona.

Low mileage survivor 1935 Ford Tudor at RM Auction Arizona.

The 1936 "von Krieger" Mercedes Benz 540K Special Roadster sold for $11,770,000 at Gooding's Pebble Beach auction. However, expectations predicted a hammer price in excess of $15M and overall catalog presale estimates exceeded sales realities.

1956 Ferrari TDF at RM Monterey Auction 2012.

Formerly the Property of Clark Gable. 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe
COACHWORK BY ROLLSTON | UPDATED BY BOHMAN & SCHWARTZ
CHASSIS NO. 2585
ENGINE NO. J-560. To be sold Gooding auction Pebble Beach August 2012.

Upcoming Mecum Auction in Monterey, August 16-18, 2012. Lot S123 1972 Porsche L&M 917/10 Spyder. 1972 Can-Am Champion Driven by George Follmer. Perhaps the world's most recognized Porsche 917
- Team Penske Racing, sponsored by L&M
- Driven by racing legends Mark Donohue and George Follmer
- Debuted at Mosport '72 Can-Am driven by Mark Donohue
- Dominated the '72 Can-Am series taking 1st at 5 of 9 races
- Can-Am Champion in '72 driven by George Follmer
- Raced as #6 by Donohue and #7 by Follmer in '72
- Penske then sold 003 to Rinzler and was campaigned as the #16 car in RC Cola livery for the '73 Can-Am season
- 2nd place overall in '73 driven by George Follmer
- Powered by a 5.4L Twin Turbo 12 cylinder engine
- Capable of making over 1150 horsepower
- 0-100 MPH in 2.9 seconds
- 917/10-003 was used for significant testing and development by Porsche prior to delivery to Penske
- A true icon for automotive racing history
- This car earned Porsche their first Can-Am Championship and is one of the most significant race cars ever built.

Awesome sounds of Ferrari 410 Superamerica.

1960 Plymouth XNR.

Mecum Auctions Monterey August 2012. For almost five decades the Holy Grail of Corvettes has remained the awe-inspiring L88, purpose-built for competition and endowed with a 560-horsepower 427 that made it the scourge of both domestic and international GT racing from Sebring to Le Mans. One of 116 built in the final year of L88 production, this exceptionally well-documented 1969 L88 convertible is the only COPO version known to exist by virtue of its special-order Muncie M22 “Rock Crusher” 4-speed transmission documented by the included tank sticker, which also lists its transistor ignition, 4.56 Positraction rear end, side exhaust, F41 suspension and a Black vinyl-covered auxiliary hard top. It was originally owned by Rick Thompkins and ran several racing seasons at venues including Sebring and Daytona and has been restored to as-raced configuration including the original racing livery. In 2009 it was part of the Bloomington Gold Special Collection and the Race Car Reunion at Carlisle; it was also displayed at the National Corvette Museum.

1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage Lightweight.

Chassis No. P/1074 (M.10003). To be auctioned Friday, August 17, 2012.

440 bhp at 6,800 rpm, 289 cu in OHV V-8 engine, four 48 IDA Weber carburetors, ZF 5DS25/1 five-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension with unequal-length A-arms and Koni adjustable shock absorbers, independent rear suspension with trailing arms, unequal-length A-arms, and Koni adjustable shock absorbers, and four-wheel stage II Girling ventilated disc brakes. Wheelbase: 95"

Please note that this vehicle will be sold on a Bill of Sale only.

• Debut win at Spa 1967 with Jacky Ickx and Dr. Dick Thompson
• Extraordinary racing history; ex-David Hobbs, Brian Redman, Mike Hailwood, and Paul Hawkins
• The first win for the famed Gulf/Wyer Partnership
• Only Gulf team car to win both as a Mirage (’67 Spa) and a GT40 (’68 Monza)
• First of three lightweight production GT40s; one of two surviving
• Early use of carbon fiber-reinforced bodywork
• Famous Gulf camera car used in the epic Steve McQueen film, Le Mans
• Distinguished provenance, including Sir Anthony Bamford, Harley Cluxton, and others
• Complete with original 1967 Mirage bodywork
• Countless books, models, awards, and event participations

In March 2013, it will be 50 years since Ford instituted the GT40 program. The purposeful mid-engine sports coupe is the finest Anglo-American supercar of the last century, with four straight victories at the Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race between 1966 and ’69. In 1966 alone, it finished 1-2-3 against Ferrari, in one of the most memorable photo finishes in the race’s distinguished history, cementing the car’s place in motorsports history and on the postered walls of teenaged bedrooms the world over.

Its genesis alone is the stuff of legends and the subject of countless books, summarized most succinctly as a failed buy-out of Ferrari by Henry Ford II.

Blank checks were signed in Detroit, engineering and racing heavyweights were hired, and Lolas were modified and readied for testing. GT/101, the first prototype, was assembled in March 1964, in time for testing and the imminent Ford-Ferrari battle at Le Mans in the summer. Undaunted by a lack of wins, Ford regrouped for 1965 with Carroll Shelby—already a veteran with his Cobras—taking over the GT40 MK II program.

He delivered a win at Daytona with Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby in GT/103 and a Second Place at Sebring with Ken Miles and Bruce McLaren in the same car. Shelby also ran the first MK II at Le Mans in June of ’65. Meanwhile, John Wyer continued development of the customer 289 GT40 racing cars.

The stunning GT40 offered here, chassis P/1074, is very well-documented in GT40 history. It began life as Mirage M.10003, and in its debut at Spa, in May 1967, the legendary endurance racer Jacky Ickx and the “Flying Dentist,” Dr. Dick Thompson, finished First Overall. This was also the first win for any car under the fabled powder blue (1125) and marigold (1456) Gulf livery. Such an accomplishment on its own would be sufficient to impress any enthusiast, but it marks only the beginning of P/1074’s storied history. It should be noted that Ickx was only in his early-twenties at the time, had just made his first Grand Prix start the same year, and was on the cusp of beginning one of the great careers in motorsports that, to date, includes an extraordinary six wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 25 podium finishes in Formula One, factory racing for Porsche, and everything in between, not to mention winning the Paris-Dakar Rally and even piloting the famous Ferrari 512S for the Steve McQueen film Le Mans.

Unfortunately, however, this particular car DNF’d later that year at Le Mans and Brands Hatch, and then won at Karlskoga and finished Second at Skarpnack, before finished with a convincing win at Montlhery. Quite the stunning debut for this exceptional racing car!

Following the FIA’s regulation change for the 1968 season, which reduced prototype engine size to three-liters and five-liters for production (Group 4) sports cars, with a limited build of 25 examples, Mirage M.10003 was taken back to J.W.A. in England for its conversion into a Group 4 GT40. The conversion was completed on February 23, 1968, whereupon it became GT40 P/1074, but has since remained complete with its original Mirage bodywork and could easily be returned to that configuration.

It was the first (by serial number) of three lightweight racing GT40’s built for the J.W.A./Gulf team. Its chassis retained the unique Mirage straight substructure forward of the windscreen. Specific to the car were Stage II ventilated disc brakes, a lightweight frame, and a lightened roof.

The body was described as “super lightweight with carbon filament aluminum, fully-vented spare wheel cover, extra wide rear wheel arches, double engine coolers, and rear panel vented (sic) for brake air exit.” The carbon fiber-reinforced bodywork used on the Mirage M1s, now P/1074, P/1075, and P/1076, are reputed to be among the first, if not the very first, uses of carbon fiber panels in race car fabrication.

Currently, P/1074 is fitted with an original, period correct GT40 Ford 289 cubic inch V-8 with Gurney-Weslake cylinder heads, four Weber twin-choke carburetors, and a 351 oil pump with an Aviaid oil pan. During its active career, P/1074 (M.10003) was powered by four other V-8 Ford push-rod engines, including a 289, a 302 (1074), a 305, and a 351 (M.10003). It was painted in powder blue Gulf livery, with a distinctive, constant-width, marigold (orange) center stripe, which instantly identified it as J.W.A’s number two car. On several occasions, it was raced with triangular nose-mounted canard fins to improve downforce. From the outset, 8.5-inch front and 11.0-inch rear BRM Mirage wheels were fitted.

Soon after conversion to a GT40, driven by endurance racing greats David Hobbs and Paul Hawkins, P/1074 raced at Daytona (February 3, 1968), where it was a DNF. This record would soon improve. On March 3, 1968, with the same drivers, it finished 28th at Sebring, then ran at the Le Mans Trials with Jacky Ickx, where it set a 3 minute 35.4-second lap record. Driven again by Hawkins and Hobbs, P/1074 won at the Monza 1000 Kilometre on April 25, 1968. On May 19, 1968, competing at the Nürburgring, David Hobbs and Brian Redman finished in Sixth Place. Hawkins and Hobbs teamed up in P/1074 at Watkins Glen to finish Second. This was the first race that P/1074 was fitted with the larger 302 cubic inch V-8 engine. It DNF’d at Le Mans (September 8, 1968), which was the last race of the season that year, again with Hawkins and Hobbs driving.

In October 1968, P/1074 was loaned to Ecurie Fracorchamps and to a Belgian racer, Jean (Beurlys) Blaton, as a replacement for his P/1079, which had been crashed at Le Mans earlier that year. Beurlys and DeFierlant ran the car at Montlhery on October 13th, achieving an Eighth Place finish. Early in 1969, J.W.A acquired P/1074 again, and in its only race that year, David Hobbs and Mike Hailwood finished Fifth at the BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch in April, still running the 302 V-8.

McQueen

This car’s life was about to change dramatically. In 1970, David Brown, of Tampa, Florida, purchased P/1074 and P/1076 from J.W.A. He in turn leased P/1074 to Steve McQueen’s Solar Productions, of North Hollywood, California, in May of that year. Under the care of J.W.A, it was to be used as a mobile camera car for McQueen’s epic production of the movie Le Mans. Steve McQueen had insisted that the cars be filmed at speed. This necessitated that the camera car be capable of very high performance and keeping up with the “star” cars.

For filming purposes, the entire roof section was removed, which left P/1074 with a windscreen that was just a few inches high. It is believed that this operation rendered the doors inoperable. Period photographs of the car show the doors securely taped shut. At the same time, the car’s fully-vented spare tire cover was removed and replaced with the less aerodynamically-efficient “twin nostril” unit from a road-going Mk III GT40.

The modified GT40 was tested at the Fighting Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (FVRDE) in Surrey England. The radical changes to P/1074 resulted in a race car with adversely impacted aerodynamics and, in the words of Jonathan Williams, “diabolical” handling. During a test, P/1074 ran over a section of tank tread, which punctured one of its racing tires, precipitating an off-road excursion that dented the belly pan in a few places. Its driver, John Horsman, author of Racing in the Rain, and the film’s director, who was accompanying him as a passenger, were unharmed.

P/1074 was employed as a camera car at the start of the 1970 Le Mans 24-Hour race, where its former driver, Jacky Ickx, was coincidentally also in attendance, racing a Ferrari 512S, no less! Its spare tire cover was removed, and a pair of movie cameras were mounted securely in the spare tire well. Several runs were made up and down the pit lanes prior to the race. It’s uncertain as to whether the car actually ran during the race. A gyroscopically-stabilized, compressed air-powered, 180 degree rotating Arriflex camera was mounted on the rear deck, where it could be remotely-controlled by a dashboard-mounted TV screen. A 35 mm manually-rotated camera was securely mounted above the passenger side door. Its operation required intrepid cameraman Alex Barbey to crouch alongside it in a small rotating seat.

But the combination of these heavy cameras, along with the car’s substantially reduced aerodynamics and now less rigid chassis, meant the car was very hard to control at the 150 mph speeds the filming required. At this time, Dutch skid-pad expert Rob Slotemaker replaced a probably very relieved Jonathan Williams as P/1074’s driver. The much-modified GT40 “roadster” was used in its altered configuration for some five months, until the filming of Le Mans was completed. It was still finished in powder blue and marigold.

After the film wrapped production, Harley E. Cluxton III (then of Glenview, Illinois) bought P/1074 from Mr. Brown. He tested the car at the Glenview Naval Air Station and said that crossing the runway arresting cables at speed was what he could only describe as “interesting.” P/1074 was sold to noted collector Sir Anthony Bamford (Staffordshire, England) in 1972. It was subsequently reconstructed by Willie Green, of Derby, England, who did the rework using a new roof structure obtained from Abbey Panels Ltd. The cut-down doors were replaced with early GT40 units, which meant the car was now equipped with early type “rocker” door handles instead of the sliding levers that are found on later J.W.A. racers.

Other body modifications performed at this time included new rear bodywork, fabricated from a “standard” GT40 production unit with widened wheel flares, so the transom lacked the additional outlet vents found on Gulf GT40s, and the rear wheel arches did not have carbon fiber reinforcement. Finally, the number plate location had to be modified to clear the exhaust pipes when the rear section was opened. Willie Green raced the reconstituted P/1074 at several UK racing events. Subsequent ownership history is well-documented and includes Mr. Cluxton’s re-acquisition of the car in 1983, prior to another restoration.

The peripatetic P/1074 was present at the GT40 25th Anniversary Reunion at Watkins Glen in September 1989 and at the 30th Anniversary Reunion in July, 1994. It has appeared in numerous books, on the “Competition Ford GT40” poster, and it’s been replicated in several models, both as the topless Le Mans camera car and in “conventional” Le Mans racing configuration. The current owner bought P/1074, and sent it to Harley Cluxton for a complete restoration in 2002, where it received a straight nose stripe and a fully vented nose cover. The doors were replaced with units featuring the later rocker style handles (as the car’s original sliding lever handles). The infamous cut-down tail section, which was removed when the car was reconstructed, reportedly survives in France. P/1074 has since been fastidiously maintained by its current owner.

In 2003, Jackie Oliver drove P/1074 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Again in 2004, this well-known and highly-respected GT40 reappeared at Goodwood fitted with nose canard fins and an adjustable height rear spoiler. In 2009, it was driven by its original driver, David Hobbs, at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, where it was awarded Best in Class.

For a fortunate bidder, the acquisition of GT40 P/1074 represents a special opportunity. Aside from its current, stunning presentation, the fact that it is one of only two surviving Gulf Mirage M1s, in which form it accumulated much of its racing history, renders it particularly attractive to an enthusiast who now has the option of relatively easily returning the car to this configuration and actively campaigning the car with its remarkable Jacky Ickx provenance.

This car’s impeccable credentials, both as a winning racer and as the camera car for the legendary Steve McQueen film Le Mans, as well as its long documented history of prominent owners and its meticulous restoration in J.W.A./Gulf livery, mark it as one of the most desirable GT40s, and indeed endurance racing cars, ever built.

Please note that a number of spare parts accompany the sale, including 1967 Mirage bodywork. Please consult an RM specialist for further details.

Special thanks to the GT40 Registry, Ronnie Spain, author of GT40: An Individual History and Race Record, and John S. Allen, author of The Ford GT40 and The Ford That Beat Ferrari, for their help and research on this car.

Ferrari 275 GTS tool roll at Bonhams.

Colorful and graphically interesting early Sears Craftsman Power Tools catalog. 49 pages. Can anyone help with the year?

1925 Ahrens-Fox N-S-4 Triple Combination Pumper. Sold $198,000 RM Auctions at St. John's July 25, 2012.

998 cu. in. dual exhaust valve T-head six-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission, solid front axle and full floating rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs in the front and rear, and two wheel mechanical rear brakes.

• Three owners from new
• 1,100 gallon per minute capacity
• Concours restoration by Firefly Restorations
• Offered from the collection of William Ruger Jr.

This 1925 Ahrens-Fox was purchased new by the city of Dover, New Hampshire and sold in 1960 to Dr. Peter Lampesis, of Rollinsford, New Hampshire. It was acquired by Mr. Ruger in 2002, making him the third owner. In a handwritten letter to Mr. Ruger, Dr. Lampesis states, “I purchased her at auction from the city of Dover to keep a junkie from getting her for the brass, like he did an older four-cylinder Fox several years before.” The letter also details three significant fires that 1641 helped fight, preserving an amazing record for this apparatus that has lived and served its whole life in New Hampshire.

At the time of his acquisition, the Ahrens-Fox had been overhauled mechanically, but it was time for the cosmetics to be redone. Mr. Ruger commissioned Andy Swift, of Firefly Restorations in Hope, Maine, to perform the restoration, whose team was assisted by gold leaf artist Peter Achorn, of FireGold in Tenants Harbor, Maine. Both gentlemen are well-known among fire apparatus enthusiasts as the “go to” specialists in their respective fields.

The result of three years of effort is the concours presentation of what is regarded as the Rolls-Royce of fire trucks. The level of detail on the chassis, paint, and upholstery is second to none. Nearly every piece of sheet metal has been enhanced with the application of gold leaf, with the larger panels adorned with intricate filigree. Mr. Ruger notes that he has fun driving the truck around and occasionally pumping water at 1,100 gallons per minute for entertaining demonstrations. When running, the T-head six provides a most satisfying, deep exhaust note that can only be described as magnificent.

2005 Ford GT 40 recreation. Sold $170,500 RM Auctions at St. John's.

550 bhp, 5.4-liter 32-valve DOHC V-8 engine, six-speed manual transmission, four-wheel independent suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes. Wheelbase: 106.7"

• Highly desirable, low-mileage, early example with all factory-available options
• Stunning performance and handling; iconic GT40-inspired design and layout
• 550 bhp, 5.4-liter supercharged V-8; 0–60 mph in 3.6 seconds; 212-mph top end

Following the GT90 concept of 1995, Ford unveiled the GT in 2002, to celebrate the Blue Oval’s upcoming centennial, and left no doubt as to its brilliant heritage. Inspired by the all-conquering GT40s that beat Ferrari at Le Mans and won the famed 24-hour race four years in a row, the new GT was much more than a mere design throwback. It was a supercar the likes of which Detroit had never before produced, capable of lightning-fast sprints to 60 mph in well under four seconds, yet tremendously competent in every other discipline; cornering and braking included. On top speed alone, it surpassed even the Porsche Carrera GT and Mercedes-McLaren SLR. It was even setting new lap records on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife, faster even than many of the highly developed cars from Porsche.

Power came from a supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 with a six-speed gearbox, producing 550 brake horsepower and a throaty, muscular exhaust note. Featuring space-age construction technologies, the GT was produced in four distinct stages, with initial assembly at Norwalk, Ohio’s Mayflower Vehicle Systems, paint by Saleen at the Saleen Special Vehicles facility in Troy, Michigan, engine assembly at Ford’s Romeo, Michigan engine plant, followed by engine and transmission installation, plus interior finishing, at Ford’s Wixom, Michigan plant. Interestingly, the Ford GT was the last vehicle project at Wixom.

Only 4,038 examples were produced, with approximately 550, 1,900, and 1,600 built during 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. Demand outstripped supply, with early cars selling for substantial premiums over the MSRP. No doubt to the delight of Henry Ford II, Enzo Ferrari’s arch-rival during the 1960s, the Ford GT remains more than capable of blowing the doors off its competition from Maranello.

With just one meticulous owner from new, no accident history, and only an approximate 1,300 miles, this is a striking, very early production Ford GT. Striking in Mark IV Red, it was factory-equipped with all four available options, including the $5,000 white painted stripes, the $4,000 McIntosh CD stereo system, the $3,500 lightweight BBS forged aluminum wheels, and the $750 color-matched Brembo brake calipers.

While capable of blistering performance, these cars were also highly praised for their remarkable practicality in everyday traffic, and this car is no exception; the light clutch makes driving a pleasure, and the leather interior, which pays homage to the original GT40, is complete with electric windows and air conditioning. Unlike its spartan predecessor, the interior has more than enough space to accommodate taller drivers. Virtually flawless and complete with all factory-available options, this desirable, early-production GT remains unquestionably one of the finest in existence.

Steve McQueen's Ferrari 275 GTB/4 prior to conversion to Spyder. One of the more celebrated models in Ferrari history has returned to the factory to be rebuilt by the company's restoration department, Ferrari Classiche.

The 275 GTB4 coupe was once owned by Hollywood's "king of cool", Steve McQueen. He bought the car in San Francisco in the late 1960s while filming the chase scene in the movie Bullitt.

It was sold after his death in 1980 and converted in the United States to a soft-top Spider. It was bought and sold again and now the present American owner has shipped it to Ferrari headquarters to have it restored as a coupe under the carmaker's authenticity certification process.

A Ferrari can only be authenticated if it is rebuilt exactly to the specifications it had when it left the factory.

Ferrari Classiche will reproduce the roof and buttresses with hand-beaten steel panels that match the original design.

Classic Ferraris continue to be in demand - a 250 GTO built for Stirling Moss in 1962 has sold for US$35 million ($45 million).


US car collector Craig McCaw bought it from Dutch businessman Eric Heerema. McCaw was co-founder of McCaw Cellular that was bought by US communication giant AT&T for US$11.5 billion in 1993.

Heerema is the owner of Nyetimber vineyard in Sussex, England. He reportedly bought the 250 GTO for around US$13 million 10 years ago.

The world record price comes 50 years after the launch of the homologation special (hence the designation Gran Turismo Omologata), of which just 36 were built.

The price eclipses the US$32 million paid for a 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO in February and the US$34 million forked out by Los Angeles museum owner Peter Mullin for a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic in 2010.

Moss' 250 GTO (chassis number 3505GT) was painted in the pale green colour of his UDT-Laystall race team - but a career-ending crash in April 1962 meant he never got to race the car.

Innes Ireland drove it in the 1962 Le Mans 24-hour race but didn't finish. Soon after, Ireland drove it to win the 100-lap Tourist Trophy at Goodwood.

The win helped Ferrari secure the 1962 GT manufacturer's title. It won again in 1963 and 1964.

The 250 GTO has been revered in classic car circles for decades for its combination of thoroughbred looks, performance and motor sports heritage.

In 1990, a 1962 GTO set a record auction price of US$10.7 million. This stood for 18 years until beaten in 2008 by another Ferrari, a 1961 250 California that sold for US$10.9 million. It was eclipsed in 2011 when a 1957 250 Testa Rossa fetched US$16.3 million.

Set up in 2006, Ferrari Classiche has processed more than 3300 certification requests using the company's archive records and original designs. The process is available to Australian and New Zealand owners.

Plymouth, MI: The 1930 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible Victoria that won a spot on the stage at RM Auctions July 28 sale here lived up to its promotion. The Duesenberg was the high seller at the annual auction preceding the 2012 Concours d’Elegance at St.John’s, bringing in $957,000.

Other best-sellers were far behind. For example: a 1933 Packard Twelve Convertible Coupe went for $385,000, followed by a 1931 Cord L-29 La Grand Boattail Speedster recreation at $368,500 and a 1937 Packard Twelve Coupe Roadster at $352,000.

The ’33 Packard Twelve Convertible Coupe sported a beautiful paint job. One pre-sale admirer suggested it would sell for more than the estimated $250,000 to $325,000. He was correct, with the final bid of $385,000 concluding the sale.

Bill Eggert of Denver, Colo. was selling his one-of-a-kind 1948 Hudson Woodie Wagon at the late-July auction. Over a period of 10 years and working with Hudson designer Don Butler’s drawings, Eggert took a rust-free 1948 Hudson Commodore Eight chassis and completed the 1948 Hudson woodie the Detroit auto maker never built. Management reportedly decided the car was too expensive to actually produce. Hudson had invested heavily in new tooling for its post-war step-down design.

The unique Hudson weighed in at 3,800 pounds and was powered by a 254.4-inch, 128-horsepower eight with two-barrel carburetor. It sold on Saturday for $159,500.

Two knock-out Oldsmobile convertibles were in the 2012 St. John’s lineup. One was a 1957 Olds 88 with red-and-white interior and Oldsmobile spelled out across the intricate grille. The second was a stunning beige 1934 convertible coupe with red pin striping and a rumble seat.

Alternative-power cars were well represented. A handsome steam-driven 1911 Stanley Model 63 Toy Tonneau parked inside the St. John’s facility was the center of discussion between its owner and a gentleman who said he recently had purchased a 1910 Stanley Steamer. Offered at no reserve and valued at between $125,000 and $175,000, the 1911 sold for $165,000.

Electric cars from Baker, Detroit Electric and Milburn were among the more than six dozen vehicles for sale July 28. The Baker, a 1912 Special Extension Coupe, brought $148,500 at auction.

There were 10 Cadillacs, nine Packards and five Chryslers for sale.

Dolson, Washington and Moon were among the lesser-known makes in the 70-plus inventory.

Other top sellers included a 1928 Cadillac V-8 “Al Capone” Town Sedan ($341,000); a 1930 Packard 745 Deluxe Eight Convertible Victoria ($275,000); a 1936 Cadillac V-16 Town Sedan ($247,500); a 1925 Ahrens-Fox N-S-4 Triple Combination Pumper ($198,000); a 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sport Saloon ($192,500), and a 2005 Ford GT ($170,500).